The Origin, Evolution, and Environmental Impact of Oceanic Large Igneous Provinces

Environmental consequences of Ontong Java Plateau and Kerguelen Plateau volcanism
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Published:May 01, 2015
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Elisabetta Erba, Robert A. Duncan, Cinzia Bottini, Daniele Tiraboschi, Helmut Weissert, Hugh C. Jenkyns, Alberto Malinverno, 2015. "Environmental consequences of Ontong Java Plateau and Kerguelen Plateau volcanism", The Origin, Evolution, and Environmental Impact of Oceanic Large Igneous Provinces, Clive R. Neal, William W. Sager, Takashi Sano, Elisabetta Erba
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The mid-Cretaceous was marked by emplacement of large igneous provinces (LIPs) that formed gigantic oceanic plateaus, affecting ecosystems on a global scale, with biota forced to face excess CO2 resulting in climate and ocean perturbations. Volcanic phases of the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) and the southern Kerguelen Plateau (SKP) are radiometrically dated and correlate with paleoenvironmental changes, suggesting causal links between LIPs and ecosystem responses. Aptian biocalcification crises and recoveries are broadly coeval with C, Pb, and Os isotopic anomalies, trace metal influxes, global anoxia, and climate changes. Early Aptian greenhouse or super-greenhouse conditions were followed by prolonged cooling during the late Aptian, when OJP and SKP developed, respectively. Massive volcanism occurring at equatorial versus high paleolatitudes and submarine versus subaerial settings triggered very different climate responses but similar disruptions in the marine carbonate system. Excess CO2 arguably induced episodic ocean acidification that was detrimental to marine calcifiers, regardless of hot or cool conditions. Global anoxia was reached only under extreme warming, whereas cold conditions kept the oceans well oxygenated even at times of intensified fertility. The environmental disruptions attributed to the OJP did not trigger a mass extinction: rock-forming nannoconids and benthic communities underwent a significant decline during Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a, but recovered when paroxysmal volcanism finished. Extinction of many planktonic foraminiferal and nannoplankton taxa, including most nannoconids, and most aragonitic rudists in latest Aptian time was likely triggered by severe ocean acidification. Upgraded dating of paleoceanographic events, improved radiometric ages of the OJP and SKP, and time-scale revision are needed to substantiate the links between magmatism and paleoenvironmental perturbations.
- absolute age
- Ar/Ar
- biostratigraphy
- C-13/C-12
- carbon
- carbon dioxide
- chemostratigraphy
- chronostratigraphy
- climate change
- Cretaceous
- Deep Sea Drilling Project
- DSDP Site 167
- DSDP Site 463
- East Pacific
- Equatorial Pacific
- Foraminifera
- Indian Ocean
- Invertebrata
- IPOD
- isotope ratios
- isotopes
- Kerguelen Plateau
- large igneous provinces
- Leg 17
- Leg 62
- Leg 143
- lithostratigraphy
- Lower Cretaceous
- magnetostratigraphy
- major elements
- Mesozoic
- microfossils
- Mid-Pacific Mountains
- Middle Cretaceous
- minor elements
- North Pacific
- Northeast Pacific
- Northwest Pacific
- Ocean Drilling Program
- oceanic anoxic events
- ODP Site 866
- Ontong Java Plateau
- Pacific Ocean
- paleo-oceanography
- paleoecology
- paleoenvironment
- Protista
- Resolution Seamount
- sedimentary rocks
- stable isotopes
- trace elements
- volcanism
- West Pacific